This is Beer

Beer here: 1. Matty O’Gorman and Lucy Deane; 2. Blathnaid McKenna; 3. Sarah Williams and Neil Fletcher. (Pix. Kieran Harnett)

Despite the fact that over 40,000 beers from around the world are produced using just four natural ingredients – hops, barley, water and yeast - 25% of Irish consumers still believe the beer brewing process involves chemicals, according to a survey conducted by ThisIsBeer.ie.

With just 10% of those surveyed believing that beer is produced naturally, ThisIsBeer.ie hosted a series of events in November, designed to celebrate beer’s four natural ingredients and challenge misconceptions around one of the nation’s favourite beverages!

Dublin natives were in for a treat for the senses as ThisIsBeer.ie hosted multi-sensory beer tasting experiences at 4 Dame Lane.  Beer aficionados and novices alike were invited to the multi-sensory beer tasting experiences where ThisIsBeer.ie’s internationally renowned experts Marc Stroobandt and Fiona Smith brought to life beer’s completely natural brewing process and excited the senses, flavour-matching a range of beers with different foods.

www.thisisbeer.ie 

Morgan fashion

Style Crew: 1. Somarios Quintana and Leila Ryan; 2. Paul and Lisa Fitzpatrick; 3. Saorla Byrne and Roisin OGrady. (Pix. BMcE)

Dublin’s best loved designer boutique hotel, The Morgan, hosted a fashion affair to remember in association with Arnotts and Style Club recently.  Upon arrival at the stunningly lit entrance to the stylish hotel, guests were treated to tailor made cocktails and Asian fusion tapas in the funky Morgan Bar while resident DJ Hudson Passos pumped up the volume.

Celebrity stylist Lisa Fitzpatrick, alongside Clara Halpin of Arnotts, presented a fashion catwalk packed with the latest in Autumn/Winter 2012 trends while beautiful models dazzled in perfect Christmas party pieces, warming winter looks and sizzling shoes and accessories from key Arnotts fashion brands.

Guests then proceeded to various areas within the hotel resembling a fashion and beauty wonderland: the hotel’s magnificent Connection suite was transformed into a mini version of the Arnotts Beauty Hall, while Style Club transformed the Alpha Suite into a stylish salon with all the trimmings, delighting guests with hair makeovers and style consultations.

After making their way around the hotel’s plush bedrooms and apartments clad in Philippe Starck designer furniture, guests went on to enjoy the cherry atop The Morgan Hotel: The Morgan Penthouse, a split level dreamland with sweeping 360 views of Dublin City and an exquisitely unique retro chrome American Airstream trailer.

I Wished for You

Booked: 1. Brian O’Driscoll and Amy Huberman; 2. Louise Stokes, Ingrid Hoey and Catherine Kelly; 3. Fionnula Carolan, Rhona Cremin and Noeleen Morris. (Leon Farrell / Photocall)

Amy Huberman is a busy lady.  Not long ago we featured the premiere party of her second series of the Comedy channel TV show Threesome and now it’s the launch of her latest book, ‘I Wished for You’.

Dublin’s newest bar / restaurant, Damson Diner on South William Street, played host and wowed guests with canapés and super cocktails, including ‘the wish’ which was made for the evening.  Lindor chocs were also in abundance courtesy of the Lindt Master Chocolatier

Guests on the night included Gordon D’Arcy and Aoife Cogan, Rob Kearney, Sean Munsanje of FM104, former Rose of Tralee Tara Talbot, TV3’s Lisa Cannon and a number of Amy’s family, friends and colleagues.

Secret Art

Art Attack: 1. Lisa Fitzpatrick and Adi Roche; 2. Sile Seoige and Ryan Tubridy. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)

The Chernobyl Children's Secret Art Campaign is an exhibition of work by national and international celebrities as well as students from the prestigious art college NCAD.  The launch took place at The RHA Gallery in Ely Place Dublin, with the show running from November 21st -25th 2012. 

All artists were given paintings materials and a board and were let loose to be as creative and innovative as they could, with one catch - the front of the art must remain anonymous.  Famous celebrities and artists include; international designer John Rocha, REM singer Michael Stipe, Spice Girl Mel C, renowned artist  Guggi, chart-topper Ed Sheeran and Red Hot Chilli Pepper drummer Chad Smith …. to name but a few!

The exhibition will begin on Wednesday November 21st when there will be a big gallery opening. This will be attended by some of the celebrity artists and all of the invite-only guests will have an exclusive opportunity to view paintings and have the chance to purchase. All pictures will retail at the same price of €150 and lucky buyers may either get a celebrity picture or an art students or a famous artist’s painting – luck of the draw!

The exhibition will then run until Sunday the 25th during which time the public can view the display and purchase remaining paintings.

Upper Baggot Street

Village people: 1. Charlie Chawke and Nicola Williams; 2. Grainne Murphy and Cyril McAree; 3. Johnny and Maeve Plower. (Pix. Kieran Harnett)

The Upper Baggot Street area of Dublin is synonymous with writers and artists and now too as a dynamic and thriving hub of retail businesses and professional services supported by financial institutions.  Traders in the area hosted a celebratory dinner at the beautiful Dylan Hotel to launch their newly formed Association.

Proving a long established fact that opening a new business during a recession is not only possible but successful, the last year has seen more than a dozen new businesses open in this historic area, and enjoying successful trading, bucking a national trend. Along with existing businesses reporting an upsurge in trade, a small group of traders and business decided to form an Association calling it The Village at Upper Baggot Street to help strengthen and unify activities and services to benefit all traders which in turn benefits the locale and its customers.

Special guest at the inaugural dinner is Charlie Chawke who has reopened Searson's which lay vacant for over a year.  Charlie had previously bid on the establishment some 20 years ago so this is a personal and business win for him.

Association chairperson Nicola Williams of Bergins auctioneers is supported in her efforts by a panel of representatives from the area, including Karen Kirby, of AIB, Oonagh O'Hagan of Meaghers Chemists, Catherine Doyle of Donnybrook Fair, Róisín Ní Mhórdha of Impression PR, and Maeve Brocklesby of Weirs.

Halo 4

Halo Effect: 1. Tara Talbot and Malcolm O’Kelly; 2. Jackie Brannigan; 3. Trevor Rigley and Melanie Morris. (Pix. Kieran Harnett)

Former Irish rugby players Malcolm O’Kelly and David Wallace lined out at the launch of the most anticipated blockbuster Game of the Year, Halo 4.  More than 200 fans flocked to the launch party at 4 Dame Lane to be amongst the first to experience the Xbox 360 game.

Halo 4 is the next blockbuster installment of the iconic franchise that has shaped entertainment history and defined a generation of gamers. Developed by 343 Industries, Halo 4 continues the story of the series’ iconic hero the Master Chief as he returns to confront his destiny and face an ancient evil that threatens the fate of the entire universe.